Antonio Loiacono, 20, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition after a collision occurred during a fourth quarter game at Gumeracha Oval in the Adelaide Hills about 8pm on Saturday
Antonio Loiacono was playing for the Birdwood Football Club in South Australia‘s Hills Football League when he suffered the critical injuries.
He was treated by specialist paramedics at Gumeracha Oval, 35km north-east of Adelaide, with his heart stopped for 30 minutes.
After being revived, he was then rushed via helicopter to the Royal Adelaide Hospital late on Saturday night, but tragically was declared brain dead at 3pm on Sunday.
His heartbroken 19-year-old younger brother Jack Loiacono said the Adelaide tradie sustained the critical injury as he went to pick up the ball in the side’s game against Gumeracha.
‘The hit was so intense he went into cardiac arrest on the spot. He wasn’t able to breathe for himself,’ Jack said.
But out of the immense tragedy comes a silver lining: the family were told that because Antonio was an organ donor, he will save two lives, including that of a baby.
‘Because he’s an organ donor, we still have some time left with him until later tonight,’ Jack said.
‘He’s saving a baby boy and a 19-year-old, so that’s good news.’
A family member who asked not to be named said Loiacono had suffered ‘too many’ concussions and should not have been allowed to play as a result, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.
Jack took to social media on Monday to share his anguish over the brother he called ‘my other half, my best friend and the person I look up to most’.
‘Words can’t describe the pain we all feel, you’re loved by so many. You will always be in my heart and I’ll talk to you everyday,’ he wrote.
